Need inspiration for a Gnome [Archive] - Wizards Community

Need inspiration for a Gnome [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Easy_Fuhsheezy
02-24-07, 08:54 PM So, im getting ready to get back into D&D after afew years hiatus (no good group to play with), and im thinking i'd like to play a Gnome caster, probably arcane rather than divine.

I've never played a gnome or a caster before, so i was hopeing there might be someone on these boards whose played one before and feels like talking about it. Basically i need some inspiration.

thanks anyone who feels like shareing.
AllWillFall2Me
02-24-07, 09:57 PM Well, the stereotype is a "Nutty Professor"esque mage. Rambles on and on about magical theory and application, and winds up accidentally setting party members on fire.
Maybe play up the alchemist role, constantly making potions and whatnot, so as to enhance your spellcasting abilities.
Reading a bit more into gnomes, it strikes me that you could use the concept of a gnome illusionist "artist". You convert the ugly and mundane into beauty with your illusions. Later potentially take Shadowcraft Mage from Races of Stone, and make your illusions reality. Try and solve all your problems through a cleverly applied illusion. EX: When being chased by a troll, a Major Image of a Wall of Fire, complete w/ (non-damaging) heat, is gonna stop that sucker cold. Or, when negotiating with Orcs, an illusion of Gruumsh's symbol above your leader can go a long way toward cowing the natives, and if the cleric disagrees, have a symbol of Gruumsh weep blood over him. That'll get him quiet quick.
And when you get Shadow spells later, even your illusions are real enough to kill.
Dang it, now I have to play this character.
jeffseadot
02-25-07, 01:54 AM I played a middle-aged gnome bard once. He was, for lack of a better term, bored with adventuring and only did it because it was the best way he could think of to earn money. Maybe you could play a very intelligent wizard who has studied so much that nothing is new for her anymore.
Soltares
02-25-07, 11:22 AM Last time I played a Gnome he was a mage-tinker (not an Artificer, just made heavy use of Alchemy, and stuff like Alchemist's Fire and Tanglefoot Bags).

I based him on a travelling gypsy tinker, using craft skills and minor spellcasting to sell his services as he travelled, and had him appear to be a compulsive liar, always telling fantastic tales of his people, travelling from their kingdom off in some direction (which tended to change, depending on the audience, but was always inaccesible to his audience). He claimed to have learned the arcane arts in an 'Invisible College of Thaumaturgy' (inspired by the game Divine Right) that only his people could find.

The GM decided to play with the idea, even though I had invented most of it whole cloth, and had my character encounter a few other gnomes similarly dressed who backed up my character's stories. He did establish a nomadic 'invisible college' that supported gnomish arcanists (and illusionists in particular), but the 'hidden gnomish kingdom' remained a fable. :)
Eled_the_Worm_Tamer
02-25-07, 07:34 PM Only played one Gnome in my life, and he was far from typical.

His name was Samuel Hain (Sam Hain to freinds) Black skinned, dreadlocked, his face painted dayly with a bone white skull. He spoke in a gravely near growl, and took particular plesure in fasioning the bones of his fallen foes, particulary thise who had harmed him or his freinds, into ornate orniments and eating vessels.

He took to magic quite intently, to wizardry to be exact, and delighted in spells that cused fear or granted him power over bone. (He took the Ostiomancer Prc from Dragon for those of you who have it) but he seldom flinched from a brawl.

But despite is rough manner and sinister aspect, in the face of a grizly and macabe sense of humor, he was a good and valiant Gnome. He never did a wrong if he could do good, never walked away from a frend or strager in need. He did how ever have an unforgiving streak, never left a breating enemy behind him, or left a sligt unanswered.

I think a lot of the fun was in playing someone who looked evil as sin as he drank from a cup made of a human skull, but who would brave a burning building to save a child or stand in the face of certain death to let an ally escape. So as you can see Gnomes dont need to be crazy inventours or comdean bards.
doink1212
02-26-07, 12:52 PM Gnome Beguiler is a fun Idea.

Ive been working on a construct of this type... Beguilers arent well liked simply because of the name... so you can make people think you are a bard. It isnt that difficult as they are similar builds.
(or about as similar as anything can be to a bard )

Gnome bards are so common that its a very convincing lie... especially if you spend some of your free time entertaining the children with stuff like dancing lights... and then you can pickpocket their parents.

all kinds of possibilities.
Easy_Fuhsheezy
02-26-07, 10:14 PM I dunno, ive been considering some different schticks for him, im consider some archetypes to base the character on:

the first is the zany tinker-mage stereotype, like solitares', maybe prestige into effigy master, or just item creation in general. This sort of character strikes me as being abscent minded but technically brilliant, and generally good natured. I can see this guy happily tinkering about in a lab, guarded by (sometimes needlessly) ellaborate traps and constructs.

Another idea is to do the whole "illusionist" thing and make him more like an old stage magician. I just got the book "The Prestige", so maybe this will give me some inspiration. This character seems to me as though he'd be abit of a showboat, maybe slightly arrogant about his skills, and i think the possiblity for one liners would be great.

the last idea i have more of just a general wizardly sorta guy, sharing his race's love for the world around himself, and takeing pleasure in conversing and makeing alliances with Earth elementals and fey and the like (ive always considered gnomes to be kinda earthy and fey-ish anyways). he'd hold special hatred for things like Spriggans and Redcaps, seeing them both as corrupt imitations of real gnomes. I see this guy as being hungry for knowledge about everything, and having him learn as many languages as possible.

so yah, theres three little character "buds", that with alittle watering and love will grow into a cool character for me to play.

thanks for the imput everyone
Dire Hamster
02-28-07, 11:00 PM I was thinking of having my next character be a gnome. I wanted to play the flashy, charismatic "musketeer" type of character. Gnomes are known for being outgoing and having a love of pranks and whatnot, so I figured it would be a good race for this type of character. Besides, I'd never played a gnome (and I simply MUST destroy the image of the Travelocity gnome that's stuck in my head). Anyhow, I was thinking of playing a swashbuckler with a few levels of bard and/or fortune's friend. Give him a rapier and the Exotic Weapons Proficiency (Firearms) feat from DMG so he could use a matchlock rifle (circa 1400's) for his ranged weapon. Anyhow, that's my idea for my next character; you're welcome to use it, if it's something you're interested in.
LouFancy
03-01-07, 05:17 PM Well this is a Divine gnome (Mustache) I've got as a cohort, a cleric/bard/divine trickster from Races of Stone right now. The feat that lets me spont cast from the trickery domain means that Mustache can spont cast invisibility.

He is a practical joker who prefers to humiliate opponents in combat instead of beating them. My main character has a crazy disarm so Mustache's second job is to run around invisible picking up the weapons that my main character disarms. Mustache's secondary job is to mess with the enemy as much as possible while still being invisible (not physically attacking) by doing things like tying fishing line in between two trees right in front of the bad guys, tying peoples shoes together or just laying down in front of them, shield out so they trip.

I actually like playing my cohort more than my main character!
Carwyn_Nhung
03-01-07, 08:06 PM Well my inspiration for gnomes was the shadow-powered ideas on the CO board, so my version of a gnome is a little different:

Gnomes are relatives of Dwarves who long ago moved to the plane of Shadow, (For campaign prehistory reasons that can vary). Over time they got used to shaping its deceptive veils far better than those that tried to prey on them, and began to relax. Their powers of deception were such that they no longer had to worry about the dangers of that otherwise deadly plane, and they developed a carefree attitude very different to that of modern dwarves. They specialise as beguilers rather than bards, as every gnome will have some illusory power, as still to most people’s knowledge they don't exist. Gnomes have a purplish black shade to their skin but generally disguise themselves as Halflings. Unlike the Halflings however, they prefer not to mix in large gatherings, although this is not out of fear or shyness. It is simply because they prefer not to have to worry about giving themselves away, and as a straight-forward old gnomish saying goes: The less eyes, the more fun!

So playing a gnome would be really weird; they are so accustomed to keeping secrets and lying that they will do both cheerfully and without sign. Unlike humans they have little conception of honesty, and so will always expect that you are "spinning some new truth". This is not altogether surprising however, as the cornerstone of gnomish magic is making illusions true.

Oh and in case you are wondering, in my world clockwork and artefacts are actually the domain of the goliaths! And a few half-elves.

What do you think?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Easy_Fuhsheezy 02-24-07, 08:54 PM	So, im getting ready to get back into D&D after afew years hiatus (no good group to play with), and im thinking i'd like to play a Gnome caster, probably arcane rather than divine. I've never played a gnome or a caster before, so i was hopeing there might be someone on these boards whose played one before and feels like talking about it. Basically i need some inspiration. thanks anyone who feels like shareing.
AllWillFall2Me 02-24-07, 09:57 PM	Well, the stereotype is a "Nutty Professor"esque mage. Rambles on and on about magical theory and application, and winds up accidentally setting party members on fire. Maybe play up the alchemist role, constantly making potions and whatnot, so as to enhance your spellcasting abilities. Reading a bit more into gnomes, it strikes me that you could use the concept of a gnome illusionist "artist". You convert the ugly and mundane into beauty with your illusions. Later potentially take Shadowcraft Mage from Races of Stone, and make your illusions reality. Try and solve all your problems through a cleverly applied illusion. EX: When being chased by a troll, a Major Image of a Wall of Fire, complete w/ (non-damaging) heat, is gonna stop that sucker cold. Or, when negotiating with Orcs, an illusion of Gruumsh's symbol above your leader can go a long way toward cowing the natives, and if the cleric disagrees, have a symbol of Gruumsh weep blood over him. That'll get him quiet quick. And when you get Shadow spells later, even your illusions are real enough to kill. Dang it, now I have to play this character.
jeffseadot 02-25-07, 01:54 AM	I played a middle-aged gnome bard once. He was, for lack of a better term, bored with adventuring and only did it because it was the best way he could think of to earn money. Maybe you could play a very intelligent wizard who has studied so much that nothing is new for her anymore.
Soltares 02-25-07, 11:22 AM	Last time I played a Gnome he was a mage-tinker (not an Artificer, just made heavy use of Alchemy, and stuff like Alchemist's Fire and Tanglefoot Bags). I based him on a travelling gypsy tinker, using craft skills and minor spellcasting to sell his services as he travelled, and had him appear to be a compulsive liar, always telling fantastic tales of his people, travelling from their kingdom off in some direction (which tended to change, depending on the audience, but was always inaccesible to his audience). He claimed to have learned the arcane arts in an 'Invisible College of Thaumaturgy' (inspired by the game Divine Right) that only his people could find. The GM decided to play with the idea, even though I had invented most of it whole cloth, and had my character encounter a few other gnomes similarly dressed who backed up my character's stories. He did establish a nomadic 'invisible college' that supported gnomish arcanists (and illusionists in particular), but the 'hidden gnomish kingdom' remained a fable. :)
Eled_the_Worm_Tamer 02-25-07, 07:34 PM	Only played one Gnome in my life, and he was far from typical. His name was Samuel Hain (Sam Hain to freinds) Black skinned, dreadlocked, his face painted dayly with a bone white skull. He spoke in a gravely near growl, and took particular plesure in fasioning the bones of his fallen foes, particulary thise who had harmed him or his freinds, into ornate orniments and eating vessels. He took to magic quite intently, to wizardry to be exact, and delighted in spells that cused fear or granted him power over bone. (He took the Ostiomancer Prc from Dragon for those of you who have it) but he seldom flinched from a brawl. But despite is rough manner and sinister aspect, in the face of a grizly and macabe sense of humor, he was a good and valiant Gnome. He never did a wrong if he could do good, never walked away from a frend or strager in need. He did how ever have an unforgiving streak, never left a breating enemy behind him, or left a sligt unanswered. I think a lot of the fun was in playing someone who looked evil as sin as he drank from a cup made of a human skull, but who would brave a burning building to save a child or stand in the face of certain death to let an ally escape. So as you can see Gnomes dont need to be crazy inventours or comdean bards.
doink1212 02-26-07, 12:52 PM	Gnome Beguiler is a fun Idea. Ive been working on a construct of this type... Beguilers arent well liked simply because of the name... so you can make people think you are a bard. It isnt that difficult as they are similar builds. (or about as similar as anything can be to a bard ) Gnome bards are so common that its a very convincing lie... especially if you spend some of your free time entertaining the children with stuff like dancing lights... and then you can pickpocket their parents. all kinds of possibilities.
Easy_Fuhsheezy 02-26-07, 10:14 PM	I dunno, ive been considering some different schticks for him, im consider some archetypes to base the character on: the first is the zany tinker-mage stereotype, like solitares', maybe prestige into effigy master, or just item creation in general. This sort of character strikes me as being abscent minded but technically brilliant, and generally good natured. I can see this guy happily tinkering about in a lab, guarded by (sometimes needlessly) ellaborate traps and constructs. Another idea is to do the whole "illusionist" thing and make him more like an old stage magician. I just got the book "The Prestige", so maybe this will give me some inspiration. This character seems to me as though he'd be abit of a showboat, maybe slightly arrogant about his skills, and i think the possiblity for one liners would be great. the last idea i have more of just a general wizardly sorta guy, sharing his race's love for the world around himself, and takeing pleasure in conversing and makeing alliances with Earth elementals and fey and the like (ive always considered gnomes to be kinda earthy and fey-ish anyways). he'd hold special hatred for things like Spriggans and Redcaps, seeing them both as corrupt imitations of real gnomes. I see this guy as being hungry for knowledge about everything, and having him learn as many languages as possible. so yah, theres three little character "buds", that with alittle watering and love will grow into a cool character for me to play. thanks for the imput everyone
Dire Hamster 02-28-07, 11:00 PM	I was thinking of having my next character be a gnome. I wanted to play the flashy, charismatic "musketeer" type of character. Gnomes are known for being outgoing and having a love of pranks and whatnot, so I figured it would be a good race for this type of character. Besides, I'd never played a gnome (and I simply MUST destroy the image of the Travelocity gnome that's stuck in my head). Anyhow, I was thinking of playing a swashbuckler with a few levels of bard and/or fortune's friend. Give him a rapier and the Exotic Weapons Proficiency (Firearms) feat from DMG so he could use a matchlock rifle (circa 1400's) for his ranged weapon. Anyhow, that's my idea for my next character; you're welcome to use it, if it's something you're interested in.
LouFancy 03-01-07, 05:17 PM	Well this is a Divine gnome (Mustache) I've got as a cohort, a cleric/bard/divine trickster from Races of Stone right now. The feat that lets me spont cast from the trickery domain means that Mustache can spont cast invisibility. He is a practical joker who prefers to humiliate opponents in combat instead of beating them. My main character has a crazy disarm so Mustache's second job is to run around invisible picking up the weapons that my main character disarms. Mustache's secondary job is to mess with the enemy as much as possible while still being invisible (not physically attacking) by doing things like tying fishing line in between two trees right in front of the bad guys, tying peoples shoes together or just laying down in front of them, shield out so they trip. I actually like playing my cohort more than my main character!
Carwyn_Nhung 03-01-07, 08:06 PM	Well my inspiration for gnomes was the shadow-powered ideas on the CO board, so my version of a gnome is a little different: Gnomes are relatives of Dwarves who long ago moved to the plane of Shadow, (For campaign prehistory reasons that can vary). Over time they got used to shaping its deceptive veils far better than those that tried to prey on them, and began to relax. Their powers of deception were such that they no longer had to worry about the dangers of that otherwise deadly plane, and they developed a carefree attitude very different to that of modern dwarves. They specialise as beguilers rather than bards, as every gnome will have some illusory power, as still to most people’s knowledge they don't exist. Gnomes have a purplish black shade to their skin but generally disguise themselves as Halflings. Unlike the Halflings however, they prefer not to mix in large gatherings, although this is not out of fear or shyness. It is simply because they prefer not to have to worry about giving themselves away, and as a straight-forward old gnomish saying goes: The less eyes, the more fun! So playing a gnome would be really weird; they are so accustomed to keeping secrets and lying that they will do both cheerfully and without sign. Unlike humans they have little conception of honesty, and so will always expect that you are "spinning some new truth". This is not altogether surprising however, as the cornerstone of gnomish magic is making illusions true. Oh and in case you are wondering, in my world clockwork and artefacts are actually the domain of the goliaths! And a few half-elves. What do you think?